Senate Rejects Tougher Background Checks

Parents of Sandy Hook victims watch proposal fail by 6 votes

(Newser)
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As expected, the Senate today rejected a bipartisan effort to expand federal background checks on gun purchasers. An attempt to ban assault-style weapons and a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines were also rejected in a series of showdown votes four months after the Newtown rampage. The background check measure commanded a majority of senators, 54-46, but that was well short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Some of the parents of the Sandy Hook victims watched the votes from the spectators' gallery that rings the Senate floor. They were joined by relatives of victims of other mass shootings in Arizona, Virginia, and Colorado. “Shame on you!” at least two women shouted, reports the Washington Post.

The proposal would have required background checks for all transactions at gun shows and online. Currently they must occur for sales handled by licensed gun dealers. Only four Republicans voted in favor of the measure, while five Democrats voted against it, reports the Hill. The Democrats in opposition were Mark Pryor, Max Baucus, Heidi Heitkamp, and Mark Begich. Harry Reid also voted no, but only as a parliamentary maneuver that would allow him to bring up the measure again. The Republicans who bucked their party were co-sponsor Pat Toomey, John McCain, Susan Collins, and Mark Kirk.

Shame on you stupid lazy fools who think a defenseless America is a good idea! No criminal is worried about ANY law you can dream up. Wake up and read history. Being unarmed , lazy and trusting the paid centurians is what let rome fall. NRA, how about the ACLU? Our gun rights are to ensure we can protect ourselves. Police take reports, they cannot protect you. If we want less violence, take our you of the medications and get them outside , strengthening the body, ADD ADHD, lazy parents and teachers. most attention deficit is directly proportionate to the lack of attention paid to the child by the parents in the first 3 years. the drugs are the problem, not guns, bombs knives or can openers. Make our people tougher , not our laws. Whatever law is being considered, if it does not make America stronger then it is the wrong answer. We cannot as a nation "just try"things like Mr Obama scolded, If we could JUST TRY things , how about just trying a fair wage , retirement,, and vacation benefits for all workers

right2dave

Apr 18, 2013 3:28 PM CDT

Boo Hoo.....now maybe congress can get back to taking care of the economy?

People_Suck

Apr 18, 2013 11:26 AM CDT

It appears the NRA paid off just enough people to protect their interests.

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